Howard County health briefs

Dance classes: Presented by Vantage House, a continuum-of-care retirement community, held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday in the Vantage House auditorium, 5400 Vantage Point Road in Columbia. Dance has shown to improve balance, gait and mood in those with Parkinson's disease. The program is funded by the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area. Registration and information: call Megan Wallnofer at 410-992-1691 or go to vantagehousepd.eventbrite.com.

This free program teaches beauty techniques to women with cancer to help them combat appearance-related side effects of treatment. Participants receive cosmetics donated by major manufacturers, as well as instruction and suggestions for wigs and head coverings. The class is taught by a licensed cosmetologist. Classes are held the third Monday of the month at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center in the Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Drive in Columbia. For information and registration: call 888-535-4555.

The Department of Veterans Affairs operates a 13,300-square-foot facility to serve veterans in Anne Arundel and Howard counties. The clinic is at 2479 Fifth St., adjacent to the Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort Meade. Services include general outpatient medical care, preventive health and education services, various medical screenings, TeleHealth services and referrals to specialized programs and inpatient services available throughout the VA Medical Health Care System. Information: call 410-305-5300.

Caregivers and seniors

Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland has received an 18-month, $500,000 challenge grant from the Maryland Home and Community Care Foundation, and additional funding from the Howard County Department of Citizen Services. A new program, SERVE (Services, Education and Resources for Vulnerable Elders), will work to improve the safety of seniors, enhance the quality of life for caregivers, help families find services, prevent premature institutionalization and reduce incidents of elder abuse and neglect. For information or to donate, go to fcsmd.org.

Blood donations

The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123.

•Support group for men and women diagnosed with cancer meets from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of every month. Registration: call 410-740-5858.

•Support group for caregivers offering help for a loved one suffering from cancer or other illnesses meets at 3:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month and from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of every month at the Medical Pavilion, Howard County General Hospital, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G010 in Columbia. Registration: call 410-740-5858.

•A breast-cancer support group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month. Registration: call 410-964-9100, ext. 5.

•A living-with-breast-cancer support group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month. Registration: call 410-740-5858.

•The Teens Together support group, a networking group for teens who have a friend or family member with cancer, will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. Information: call 410-740-5858.

Widows and widowers The group meets from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at Jilly's in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, 10300 Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City. Information: call 410-740-5858.

Parkinson's disease An education and support group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month, 8180 Lark Brown Road in Elkridge. Information: call 410-955-8795.

HIV support groupfor those infected with or affected by HIV. A women's group meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Friday of every month. A group for men and women meets from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Meetings are at the Columbia Health Center, 7180 Columbia Gateway Drive. Information: call 410-313-6267.

Prostate-cancer support group Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Program is a forum for men to learn about diagnosis and treatment options, management, side effects and quality-of-life issues. The program provides a comfortable and confidential setting among peers to discuss and share common experiences and problems related to prostate cancer. There are occasional guest speakers. The program is held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month (excluding July and August) at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center in the Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Drive in Columbia. Information: call the American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345.

Vision-impaired support groupsponsored by the National Federation of the Blind will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. Information: call Sharon Maneki at 410-715-9596.